Construction worker Benjamin Farrows pleads guilty to dealing meth at Minyama
A building labourer who told someone he was “restocked” with drugs has had his meth dealing business uncovered during a raid on a boat in an affluent Sunshine Coast suburb.
Police & Courts
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A construction supervisor’s meth side business has unravelled following a police raid on a yacht in an affluent Sunshine Coast suburb.
Detectives found incriminating drug supply messages on Benjamin Garry Farrows’ mobile following a search at a boat he was staying on at Minyama on November 3, 2022, the Maroochydore District Court was told on Friday.
Legal officer Liam Dennis said during the search police found two ice pipes however, it was when detectives analysed the Minyama man’s phone they uncovered the nefarious ice deals.
From October 13 to November 2, 2022, Farrows supplied small amounts of meth twice and on two occasions offered to supply.
Mr Dennis told the court during an exchange with a woman named “Maya”, she asked if Farrows could “help her and Jess out” to which he said he was “restocked”.
The 42-year-old was interviewed by police and admitted to owning the pipes and declined to talk about the messages and other drugs allegedly found on the yacht. The court was told was not charged with possession of them.
Mr Dennis said Farrows had minor criminal history in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and had convictions in Queensland for other offences.
The court heard the 42-year-old was willing to engage in drug intervention and case management.
Defence lawyer Brendan Beavon said Farrows turned to drugs later in life after he suffered a horror arm injury in the workplace in 2019, which led him to abuse painkillers.
This created a “gateway” into harder drugs such as meth for the Minyama man, who was in and out of the grips of an addiction for several years, Mr Beavon said.
The court was told Farrows worked in construction as a site supervisor and building labourer and had a stable life with a partner. He has also made “inroads” into drug rehabilitation.
Judge Glen Cash said the boilermaker by trade needed to seek out rehabilitation and cited actual jail time was open for Farrows due to the charges and his history.
Farrows pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying dangerous drugs and possessing utensils or pipes and was jailed for 12 months.
He was granted immediate parole.
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